john k



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Letters Patent No. 74,122, dated February 4, 1868,

IMPRGVED BRIDLE-BIT.

To ALL WHOM 1T MAY GONCERN:

Beit known that I, JOHN K. NORTON, of Flushing, in the. county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, and

Figure. 2 is a. plan, the change in relative position of the parts being shown in red and black lines.

The same letters are employed'in both gures in the indication of' identical parts.`

My improvement consists in forming a bit with two bars, so connected and constructed that by changing the reins or the position of the bit, it may be converted into a stift' bit, or iexible curb-bit, as desired.

i The bit is formed by two rigid bars, A and B, attached by a pivot at C, so as to turn freely. The bur A has a ring in the outer end, at D. The other` end is bent at right angles, forming a branch, E, with two openings to receive thc bridle-reins or headstall, at El and E3. The bar B has a ring, F, attached to itsouter cnil, which projects beyond the branch E, andhes its opposite end, in lil-:e manner, bent at right angles to-form a branch, G, with openings at Gr1 and G2, in the same manner as the branch E, and for the -sarne purpose. YThe bar B is bent at B', to receive in the bo'w thus formed, as at iig. 1the branch E,-which bears against'it.

It will be seen that this construction enables the bit to be used in several different modes. Suppose thc bit to be attached, as shown in iig. 1; by attaching the reins in the rings F and D, by drawing on the reins, the bars wi11 turn on their pivots, opening, as shown in iig. 2, forcing open the jaws of the horse, and forming a very powerful curb-bit. By attaching the reins in the openings and E1, the bars will be drawn together, and form an ordinary straight bit. ABy reversing the bit in the headstall, a contrary action will' be produced. By then attaching the reins to the rings F and D, wehave a straight bit, and by attaching them at'El and Gl, the curb, as explained. So, by turning the bit upside down, it may be converted into a straight or curb-bit in the same manner. So, by turning the bit upside down, andv attaching a rein to the ring in one end, and onecf the openings in the branch on the other, it may be used to prevent the horse from turning his head.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of4 the bar Awith the ring D and branch E, and the bar B with the ring Fand branch G, when constructed as herein described, as a newarticle of manufacture.

In testimony whereof, I have sjgned'my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. r

JOHN K. NORTON.

Witnesses:

Josnrn SUrTznR, J. P. Junxms. 

